contender
Americannoun
-
a person or group that competes against others to win something; contestant.
The three remaining contenders for the Democratic Party nomination met for a televised debate.
-
a person or group with a good chance of success in a contest.
After last season’s disaster, the Texas team needed to convince me they were a contender.
Etymology
Origin of contender
Explanation
Baseball players, boxers, politicians: each is a contender in that they compete or campaign to win something. Contender has a slightly different meaning than competitor, often implying a more vigorous, even scrappier, sense of taking on every unexpected challenge. The most famous use of contender is Marlon Brando's quote in the film On The Waterfront. Brando plays a once promising boxer whose career has been ruined by a fixed fight. "I coulda been a contender!" Brando cried, implying he could have been the boxer whom everyone wanted to defeat.
Vocabulary lists containing contender
Olympics Vocabulary for Champions
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Greatest: Muhammad Ali
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ungifted
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Appeared in the October 7, 2025, print edition as 'The Super Bowl Contender Turning Into a Disaster'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025
Taveras earned his spot on the UFC roster through Dana White's Contender Series last October.
From BBC • Aug. 6, 2024
If these plans are ever adopted, Premium Tour players are likely to be able to play perhaps four events a year on the Contender Tour.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2024
Contender or pretender: Arizona State did the Huskies a huge favor on Saturday night in Seattle, putting a scare into them but ultimately relenting and keeping Washington in this mix.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2023
Using a gangplank hastily hammered together from wooden boards, refugees from Da Nang disembark from the US Military Sealift Command ship Pioneer Contender at Cam Ranh Bay 1975.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
